Tew, G. and Klonizakis, Markos and Saxton, G. (2010) Effects of ageing and fitness on skin-microvessel vasodilator function in humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 109 (2). pp. 173-181. ISSN 1439-6319

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Abstract

The impact of cardiopulmonary fitness ( _V O2max) on the age-related decline in skin-microvessel vasodilator function has not been fully established and the inter-relationships among different measures of microvascular vasodilator function are unknown. We used laser Doppler flowmetry to assess relative changes in forearm skin blood flow to various stimuli in three groups of adults: young (n = 15; 27 ± 2 years), older sedentary (n = 14; 65 ± 6 years) and older fit (n = 15; 61 ± 5 years). Local-heating induced and post-occlusive hyperaemia responses were higher in the young and older fit groups compared to the older sedentary group (P\0.05) and were moderately correlated with _V O2max in the pooled cohort of older adults (r = 0.49– 0.58; P\0.05). Peak hyperaemia responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were higher in young compared to older sedentary adults (P\0.05) and were not associated with V O2max in older adults (P[0.05). Associations among different measures of microvascular vasodilator function were generally moderate at best. In summary, the local heating and reactive hyperaemia data indicate that the age-related decline in skin-microvessel vasodilator function can be ameliorated through regular aerobic exercise training. As this is not supported by the iontophoresis data, we recommend that, when assessing microvascular function, the use of a single physiological or pharmacological stimulation coupled to laser Doppler flowmetry should be avoided. Finally, the moderate correlations between outcomes probably reflect the distinct mediators that are responsible for the vasodilator response to each test.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	The impact of cardiopulmonary fitness ( _V O2max) on the age-related decline in skin-microvessel vasodilator function has not been fully established and the inter-relationships among different measures of microvascular vasodilator function are unknown. We used laser Doppler flowmetry to assess relative changes in forearm skin blood flow to various stimuli in three groups of adults: young (n = 15; 27 ± 2 years), older sedentary (n = 14; 65 ± 6 years) and older fit (n = 15; 61 ± 5 years). Local-heating induced and post-occlusive hyperaemia responses were higher in the young and older fit groups compared to the older sedentary group (P\0.05) and were moderately correlated with _V O2max in the pooled cohort of older adults (r = 0.49– 0.58; P\0.05). Peak hyperaemia responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were higher in young compared to older sedentary adults (P\0.05) and were not associated with V O2max in older adults (P[0.05). Associations among different measures of microvascular vasodilator function were generally moderate at best. In summary, the local heating and reactive hyperaemia data indicate that the age-related decline in skin-microvessel vasodilator function can be ameliorated through regular aerobic exercise training. As this is not supported by the iontophoresis data, we recommend that, when assessing microvascular function, the use of a single physiological or pharmacological stimulation coupled to laser Doppler flowmetry should be avoided. Finally, the moderate correlations between outcomes probably reflect the distinct mediators that are responsible for the vasodilator response to each test.
Keywords:	skin blood flow, Ageing, Exercise, Laser Doppler flowmetry
Subjects:	A Medicine and Dentistry > A100 Pre-clinical Medicine
Divisions:	College of Social Sciences > Faculty of Health & Social Sciences > Lincoln School of Health & Social Care
Depositing User:	Users 504951 not found.
Date Deposited:	28 Oct 2010 19:19
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2013 08:49
URI:	http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/3544

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